Every 2 years regardless of mileage (Opel Omega B)

Draining the coolant

Warning! Allow the engine to cool before starting work. Avoid contact with skin or painted surfaces. Wash away spilled antifreeze as soon as possible with plenty of water. Do not leave the container of antifreeze open or spill antifreeze in front of garage doors. Children or pets may be attracted to the sweet smell of antifreeze, but antifreeze is deadly poisonous.

1. When the engine has cooled down completely, remove the expansion tank filler cap. Turn the cap counterclockwise, wait for the pressure to drop, then unscrew the cap and remove it.

2. If necessary, loosen the mounting bolts and remove the protective shield from underneath the engine to improve access to the radiator drain plug.

3. Place a suitable container under the radiator, then unscrew the drain plug and allow the coolant to drain into the container. If the plug is not installed, loosen the mounting clamp and disconnect the lower hose from the radiator.

4. When the coolant flow stops, tighten the drain plug securely or reconnect the hose and tighten the clamp (depending on what is needed).

5. If you drained the coolant for a purpose other than replacing it, then if it is clean and has been in service for at least two years, it can be reused, although this is not recommended.

Flushing the cooling system

If the coolant has not been replaced for a long time or the antifreeze content was low, then, over time, the efficiency of the cooling system will decrease, as the cooling system channels become clogged with rust, scale and other deposits. The efficiency of the cooling system can be restored by flushing it.



The radiator must be flushed separately from the engine in order not to clog it.

Radiator flushing

1. Disconnect the upper and lower hoses and any other necessary hoses from the radiator.

Source is on this resource [OPELBOOK.ru]

2. Insert a water hose into the upper radiator hose. Direct a stream of clean water through the radiator and continue flushing until clean water flows out of the lower radiator hose.

3. If after a long period of time the water still does not flow cleanly, the radiator can be flushed using a cleaning agent. Follow the instructions of the cleaning agent manufacturer. If the radiator is very clogged, insert a hose into the lower radiator hose and try to flush it in the opposite direction.

Engine flush

1. Remove the thermostat following the instructions provided in subsection 4.4, then if the upper radiator hose was disconnected from the engine, temporarily reconnect it.

2. With the upper and lower radiator hoses disconnected, insert the water hose into the upper radiator hose. Run clean water through the engine and continue flushing the engine until clean water flows out of the lower radiator hose.

3. Once flushing is complete, reinstall the thermostat and reconnect the hoses.

Filling with coolant

1. Before filling the cooling system with coolant, check that all hoses and clamps are in good condition and that the clamps are securely tightened. Remember that a mixture of antifreeze and water can be used all year round to prevent corrosion on engine components.

2. Remove the filler cap of the expansion tank of the cooling system.



3. Remove the drain screw from the top of the thermostat housing cover.

4. On all engines, slowly add coolant until the level reaches the COLD mark on the side of the expansion tank.

5. Keep an eye on the drain plug hole when filling the cooling system with coolant; once coolant starts flowing out of the hole without any air bubbles, replace the screw and tighten it securely.

6. Once the coolant level is correct, replace the expansion tank filler cap and tighten it securely.

7. Start the engine and wait until it warms up to normal operating temperature (until the cooling fan turns on and then turns off).

8. Turn off the engine and wait until it cools down, then check the coolant level again. Add coolant to the MAX mark if necessary and tighten the expansion tank cap.

Antifreeze

Antifreeze should always be replaced at the required intervals. This is necessary not only to maintain the quality of the antifreeze, but also to prevent the formation of corrosion, which would otherwise occur, as corrosion inhibitors lose their effectiveness over time.

Use only ethylene glycol-based antifreezes that are suitable for use in cooling systems using various metals. Antifreeze percentages and minimum operating temperatures are listed in subsection 2.2.

Before adding antifreeze, it is necessary to drain all the coolant from the cooling system, it is advisable to flush the cooling system and check the condition and reliability of the connections of all hoses.

After filling the antifreeze, a label must be attached to the expansion tank indicating the type and concentration of the antifreeze used, as well as the date of filling. Subsequently, only antifreeze of this brand and concentration must be added.

Do not pour antifreeze intended for the engine cooling system into the windshield/rear window washer system, as it will damage the body paint. A special additive must be added to the washer system in exactly the amount indicated on the container with the additive.